Players With USGA Ties Move Through Stage At Qualifying School


October 27, 2008

By David Shefter, USGA

Two USGA champions and three former USA Walker Cuppers survived the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School this past weekend at various sites.

The biggest name of that group was Erik Compton, a member of the 2001 Walker Cup squad who underwent his second heart transplant surgery five months ago and successfully petitioned the PGA Tour to use a golf cart during qualifying. The 28-year-old Floridian carded an 8-over total of 296 in his 72-hole qualifier at Crandon Park Golf Course in Key Biscayne, Fla., to tie for 23rd.

The low 23 players and ties advanced to the second stage of qualifying next month. Second-stage qualifying is sometimes the toughest since those advancing to the third and final stage are guaranteed no worse than conditional status on the Nationwide Tour for 2009.

The PGA Tour, after evaluating Compton's medical records, granted the approval for him to use a cart through all three stages of qualifying and any PGA Tour-sanctioned event through March, 2009. After that, Compton can reapply to use the cart.

Compton had been on the organ donor list since his heart attack